Release device for fluids under pressure



April 7, 1936., l D. MAPES 2,036,710

RELEASE DEVICE FOR ELUIDS UNDER PRESSURE Filed May 1, 195s Z5 f/ m Il @u 5E n." Hl

El Q. l ,L 2.9

INVENTOR DAN/1 /V/A P55 BY y ATroRNEY Patented Apr. 7', 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEI RELEASE DEVICE FOR FLUIDS UNDER PRESSURE Application May 1, 1933, Serial No. 668,702 9 Claims. (Cl. 169-11) The present invention relates broadly to fluid release devices for use with containers in which the iluid is retained under pressure by means of franglble sealing means and from which the iiuid is released by operation of frangible seal type uid release devices, such as are now extensively employed in nre extinguishing apparatus; and embodies more specifically improved means for locking such 'iluid release devices against accidental lo and/or premature operation.

In apparatus of this type, in which the fluid release device usually comprises a body member, frangible seal penetrating means mounted therein, an operating spindle extending exteriorly of the body member, and operating means mounted' on the spindle likewise exteriorly of the valve body, the practice has been to wedge or otherwise securely interpose a locking member between the operating means and the adjacent exterior surface of the body member, so as to prevent accidental and/or premature operation of the fluid release device. 'I'his practice, however, has involved two undesirable. features. In the first place, it has been found difficult to remove such locking members suiilciently quickly in an emergency; whilel in the second place, because of the first diiilculty, the practice hasdeveloped of removing the locking members between the time of shipment and installation of the apparatus and the time of use, so that in the interim there has been no protection against accidental and premature operation of the apparatus.

The present invention contemplates the provision oi.' locking means oi! a type overcoming the above-mentioned diiiiculties, and it is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide easily releasable locking means adapted to be left in` locking position up to the time that the apparatus is to be used.l v f 4Q It is a further object of the invention to provide locking means which is permanently secured to the uid releasefdevice, so as to be always available when needed. 1

.It is a still further object to provide locking means permanently secured to i'luid release device operating means and. adapted to be into and out oi.' locking relation with thev fluid release device proper.

These, and further objectsloi the invention notspecifically enumerated above, will be apparent as thefinvention is described in greater detail in connection 4 with the accompanying drawing, wherein:` v Figure 1 is a view in elevation or a uld release device embodying one form of locking means in accordance with the present invention, a portion of the fluid medium container being also shown.

Figure 2 is a view in section, taken through the axis of the uid. release device and container shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is an end view of the combined operating means and locking means shown in Figures l and 2, the view being taken in the direction looking from the right-hand side of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a top view of the operating and 10 locking means of Figure 3.

Referring rst of all to Figure 2, the reference numeral I represents a portion oa container for a uid medium under pressure, the mouth of the container being adapted to receive the body mem- 15 ber 2 of a fluid release device. A passage 3 extends through the body member, and is adapted to receive at its lower end a dip tube 4 for siphoning oi the liquid portion of the fluid pressure medium. The upper end of the passage 3 is 20 formed with a. seat 5 and is normally rendered gas-tight by means of a frangible sealing disc 6 and a sealing gasket l, both of which are adapted to be carried by a thimble 8, having a screwthreaded engagement with the interior of the 25 cating with the outlet passage I0, the passage I0 30 terminating in recoil preventing means I I forming no part of the present invention, said recoil preventing means comprising an arrangement of diametrically opposed discharge openings I2 designed to discharge the fluid pressure medium 35 substantially at right angles to the axis of the passage I0. AThe. outlet nipple I3 is provided with suitable threads, as shown, for connection to any suitable fluid medium conducting means.

Across the upper end of the body member 2 is 40 arranged a bonnet I4,Which is held in gas-tight relation with `the body member by means oi a coupling member I5, which engages a shoulder I6 on the bonnet and threads Il on the body member. Mounted within the bonnet' I4 and ex- 45 tending exteriorly thereof is a spindle I8 carrying at its inner end a hollow tubular cutter I9 for penetratingv the frangible sealing disc 6, the hollow tubular cutter being provided with openings A2li for establishing communication between 50 the interior of the cutter and the outlet passages 9 and I0. The spindle I8 provided with a screw-threaded portion 2| adapted to engage a corresponding screw-threaded portion of the bony net.,so that rotation of the spindle I8 causes the 55 hollow tubular cutter I9 to be advanced and retracted, The upper end of the bonnet is closed by a packing washer 22, packing 23 and a packing nut 24, the packing washer 22 also serving to limit the upward motion of the spindle I8 by reason ofl engagement with the screw-threaded portion 2 I.

Referring now to Figures 1, 2 and 3, it will be seen that the upper portion of the spindle I8 is provided with opposed iiat surfaces 25, adapted to be spanned by projecting lugs 26 on the combined operating handle and locking means 21. A pin 28 is provided to secure the member 21 to the spindle I8, so that the member 21 is freely rotatable on the pin.

The essential features of the present invention, now about to be described, comprise depending lugs 29 on the member 21, formed with substantially at opposed surfaces 30, adapted to span substantially at cooperating surfaces 3| on the bonnet I4, the pivoted engagement of the member 21 with the spindle I8 permitting the depending lugs 29 to be swung into and out of cooperatingeng-agement with the surfaces 3| on the bonnet, the normal inoperative position o1' the combined operating handle and locking means 21 being as shown in Figure 1, in which position the spindle I8 cannot be rotated to advance the hollow tubular cutter through the frangible sealing disc, because of the locking engagement between the cooperating surfaces 30 and 3l. As an additional safeguard, and in order to give visible indication of the apparatus having been tampered. with, the member 21 is sealed in the position shown in Figure 1 by means of a commercial sealing wire 32 and lead seal 33, the sealing Wire being passed through a hole in one of the depending lugs 29 of the member 21 and through a hole in a projection 34 on the body member 2.

When it is desired to operate the fluid release device, the combined operating handle and locking means 21 is rotated from its position as shown in Figure 1 to its position as shown in Figure 2, breaking the sealing wire 32 and disengaging the locking means, so that the spindle I8 can be rotated to advance the hollow tubular cutter I9 through the frangible sealing disc 6, whereby the frangible sealing disc is ruptured and the'fluidp medium is permitted to escape through the passages provided.

In order to facilitate the disengagement of the locking means, the member 21 may be provided, as shown more clearly in Figure 4, with a tongue 35, which need simply be lifted to break the sealing wire 32 and to effect disengagement of the locking means. As i's also shown in Figure 4, the member 21 may be provided with suitable operating directions, the natureof which can be clearly seen from the drawing Without further description.

Referring again to Figure 2, it will be noted that the bonnet I4 can be secured to the body member 2 in any desired position with respect to the outlet nipple I3, so that the member 21, the position of which is determined by its association with the bonnet I4, can likewise be positioned as desired with respect to the outlet nipple I3 of the body member 2. A set-screw 36 i's provided for preventing any possible disturbance of the position of the bonnet Il after it has been secured to the body member 2 by means of the coupling I5.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided improved locking means for uid release devices of a type which is easily releasable and which i's adapted to be left in locking position up to the time that the apparatus is to be used. It will be noted, however, that .while the invention has been described with specific reference to the single embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing, wherein the strictly limited to the disclosure, but rather to tho scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A release device for containers of a medium under pressure comprising a body member securable toa container, a closure for conning the medium withinthe container, a bonnet member rotatably mounted on the body member, means to secure against rotationsaid bonnet member to said body member, a spindle passing through said bonnet member and adapted 'to effect opening of the closure, means to effect inward and outward rotary movement of the spindle with respect to the bonnet member, an operating handle pivoted on the spindle for rotating the spindlelyat least one projection extending below said operating handle and having a substantially fiat-sided surface and substantially paralleling the axis oi' the spindle; and a substantially flat surface formed on the bonnet member and substantially parallelling the axis of the spindle, said pivotal mounting of the operating handle on the spindle enabling the operating handle to be rotated to permit the flat surface of the projection on the handle to normally engage the flat surface on the bonnet member to normally prevent rotation of the operatlng handle with respect to the bonnet member, the handle and the bonnet member being rotatable together with respect to the body member Without moving said spindle with respect to the bonnet member when said securing means is released.

2. A release device for containers of a medium under pressure comprising a body member secured to the container, a frangible closure member carried by the body member and confining the medium Awithin the container, penetrating means adapted to penetrate said closure member constructed to provide free discharge through said closure member, a bonnet member rotatably mounted on the body member, means to secure against rotation said bonnet member to said body member, a spindle passing through said bonnet member upon which the penetrating means is mounted to move with respect to the closure member, a screw threaded engagement between the spindle and the bonnet member to cause the spindle to advance the pentrating means to penetrate the frangible closure member, an operating handle pivoted on the spindle for rotating the spindle, at least one projection extending below said operating handle and having a substantially nat-sided surface adjacent to and substantially parallelling the axis of the spindle, and a. substantially at surface formed on the bonnet member and substantially parallelling the axis o! the spindle, said pivotal mounting of the operating handle on the spindle enabling the operating handle to be rotated to permit the nat surface oi.' the projection on the handle to normally engage the flat surface on the bonnet member to normally prevent rotation of the operating handle withrespect to the bonnet member, 75

without advancing said spindle and said penethe handle and the bonnet member being rotat', able together with respect to the body member trating means when said securing means is released.

3. A release device for containers of a medium under pressure comprising a body member secured to the container, a franglble closure member carried by the body member and confining the medium within the container, penetrating means adapted to penetrate said closure member constructed to Vprovide free discharge through lib said closure member, a bonnet member rotatably mounted on the body member, means to secure against rotation said `bonnet member to said body member, a spindle passing through said bcnnet member upon which the penetrating means is mounted to move with respect to the closure member, a screw threaded engagement between the spindle and the bonnet member to cause the spindle to advance the penetrating means to penetrate the frangible closure member, an operating handle pivoted on the spindle for rotating the spindle, at least one projection extending below said operating handle and having a substautially nat-sided sln'iace t i acent to and substantially parallelllng the anis of the spindle, and a plurality of substantially flat surfaces formed on the bonnet member and substantially paralleliing the axis of the spindle, said pivotal mounting of the operating handle on the spindle enabling the operating handle to be rotated to permit the dat surface of the projection on the handle to normally engage a flat surface on the bonnet member to normally prevent rotation of the operating handle with respect to the bonnet member, the handle and the bonnet member being rotatable together with respect to the body member without advancing said spindle and said penetrating means when said securing means isreled.

d. n duid release device comprising a body member, means rotatably mounted on the body member, engaging means on the mounted means, means to secure the mounted m to said body member, releasing means rotatably mounted in the mounted means and operableupon rotation with respect to said mounted means, means pivoted on the releasing means to operate said releasing means and adapted to be swung toward and away from the mounted means, and at least one projection on said pivoted means adapted to enge the engaging means `on the mounted means when the plvoted means is swung toward the mounted means, said engaging meansbeing constructed to prevent relative rotation between the pivoted means and the mounted means upon engagement of a projection with engaging means whereby rotation of the releasing means with rel body member, releasing means rotatably mounted in the bonnet member and operable on rotation with respect to said bonnet member, a handle pivoted to said releasingmeans arranged to be swung toward and away from thev bonnet member and adapted to operate said releasing means, and at least one projection on said handle adapted to engage said surface of the boimet member when the handle `is swung toward the bonnet member, Y

' rotatably mounted on the member having a substantially flat-sided surface formed thereon, means to secure against rotation said mounted means to said member, releasing mea-ns rotatably mounted in the rst named means and operable upon rotation with respect to the first named means, a handle pivoted on said releasing means adapted to operate the releasing means, and at least one projection having a substantially atsided surface on the handle extending belowthe handle, said' pivotal connection of the handle enabling the handle to be swung toward the mounted means to permit the substantially atsidedsurface on the projection to engage the substantially flat-sided surface on the mounted means, said engagement preventing the rotation of the handle with respect tothe mounted means and operation of the releasing means but permitting joint rotation of the handle, the releasing means and the mounted means about an' aids of the member when the securing means is released.

7. lin a huid release device, a member, means rotatably mounted on the member having a substantially nat-sided surface and capable of rotation about an axis of the member, means to secure against rotation said mounted means to said member, releasing means rotatably mounted in said mounted means and operable upon rotation with respect to said mounted means, a handle pivotally connected to said releasing means and having an operative and a non-operative position relative to the member, and at least one projection having a substantially flat-sided surface on said handle and extending below said handle, the

substantially dat-sided surface on a projectionA of the handle being normally permitted to engage the substantially flat-sided surface on the mounted means upon pivoting of the handle into a nonoperative position with respect to the member to prevent rotation of the handle with respect to said mounted means and operation of the releasing means, said handle and said mounted means being capable of rotation in conjunction about an axis of the member Without operation of the releasing means when said securing means is released.

8. In a uid release device, a member, means rotatably mounted on the member having a plurality of substantially flat-sided surfaces formed thereon and adaptedto be rotated about an axis of the member, means to secure against rotation said mounted means to said member, releasing means rotatably mounted in said mounted means and operable upon rotation with respect to said mounted means, a handle pivotally engaging said releasing means; the pivotal mounting of the handle enabling the handle to be rotated with respect to the member to permit an operative and a non-operativeposition of the handle, said handle having at least two projections extending below said handle each lhaving a substantially nat-sided surface, said handle being rotatable 'with respect to said mounted means 4to operate said releasing means, the pivotal mounting of the Lhandle permitting normal engagement of the substantially nat-sided surfaces of the projections on the handle with the substantially nat-sided surpreventing rotation of the handle relative to said mounted means and consequent operation of the releasing means when the handle is in a non-op` erative position but permitting joint rotation of the handle and the mounted means about an axis o1' the member without operation of the releasing means when said securing means is released.

9. In a fluid release device, a member, means having a substantially fiat-sided surface rotatably mounted thereon, means to secure said means to the member, releasing means rotatably mount- 2,036,710 l faces onf/til@ mounted means. said engagement ed in the rst named means and' operable upon rotation with respect to the tlrst named means, and means pivoted to said releasing means adapted to rotate the releasing means with respect to the rst named means, and at least one projeotion on said pivoted means adapted to engage the flat-sided surface on said iirst named means whereby the joint rotationv of said releasing means, said pivoted means and said first named means without operation or said releasing means is permitted when said securing means is released.

DANIEL MAPES. 

